Senior pic - lighting

[mandyatm]

Is her face too bright on the right side?

50mm
f/2.5
1/80 sec
ISO 200

[SusanH1970]

Yeah, that side is blown out. If you shot this in RAW and you have a pretty recent version of ACR you might be able to bring it back with the recovery slider.

Other than that, it's stunning!

[mandyatm]

Thanks! It's not completely blown out, I can reduce the highlights and the detail is still all there. Just wondering if it needed that or if it looked good as is. I didn't go and re-edit the raw file, but I reduced the highlights in PSE. Is this better or should I reduce them even further?

[zona5101]

I think you could go with either. The first one is a little on the hot side but it kind of takes the ruddyness away. Your second one, the exposure is toned down a bit but there is a little more texture to the skin... so between the 2 versions, I like the first a smidge better.

[CiiVii]

...And I like the 2nd a smidge better. I'd bet that the kid would like the first though- it's trendier.

[SusanH1970]

Second one looks good to me!

[srt]

Another vote for the second. Great shot too by the way.

[Benji]

I get an "R" reading of 254 in the brightest highlight on her face. The brightest my lab wants for printing is 240 (diffused highlight on the face.) I suggest taking it back to 240 which is what I did below.

Benji

[hifigraz]

One more Vote for the second one. Definitly better. And by the way you really did a great shop on her eyes. You managed very well to get them both sharp.

kr Robert

[olgabe]

Technically, the second edit is better, but in the first one she looks more attractive..

Interesting point, isn't it? which one would you give to your client - the attractive one or the technically perfect one?

I'd probably give my client the first one. I would not include the first one in my portfolio shots set though because it is technically imperfect.. .. What about you?